tracked leaders, went 2nd 4 out, virtually upsides 2 out, ridden after last, stayed on well under pressure to lead narrowly closing stages
mid-division, tracked leaders after 4 out, effort 2 out, every chance last, soon ridden, no extra in 3rd flat
mid-division, outpaced 3 out, kept on same pace under pressure from next, never troubled leaders
badly hampered 1st, behind, some headway before 3 out, ridden after next, kept on same pace, never near leaders
always towards rear, blundered 11th, well beaten when blundered 3 out, tailed off when pulled up before next
led narrowly to 15th, in touch, lost place 4 out, weakened from next
in touch on inside, outpaced 3 out, no impression before next
mid-division, pushed along 5 out, never reached leaders, weakened from 3 out
chased leaders, blundered 2nd, reminders after 5th, blundered and lost place 12th, pulled up before next
always behind, struggling from 6th, pulled up before 15th
mid-division, pushed along 5 out, chased leaders under pressure 3 out, soon outpaced, no impression
mid-division, ridden after 4 out, soon weakened, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
mid-division, mistake 9th and 10th, outpaced 3 out, soon ridden, beaten when badly hampered after next
held up towards rear, headway 5 out, chased leaders 3 out, ridden after next, stayed on to take 4th towards finish, no impression
hampered 1st, always behind, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
mid-division when fell 1st
tracked leaders, outpaced after 3 out, soon weakened
mid-division, close up 11th, challenged 2 out, led narrowly approaching last, soon ridden, kept on under pressure flat, headed narrowly closing stages
held up behind, headway 5 out, chased leaders on outer next, weakened 2 out
with leader, led 15th, hard pressed after 3 out, driven and headed approaching last, ridden and no extra flat, lost 4th towards finish
mid-division, outpaced 4 out, not fluent 2 out, soon ridden, never near leaders
tracked leaders, outpaced after 4 out, ridden after next, 6th and one pace when fell 2 out
keen early, mid-division, headway 14th (water), soon in touch on outer, not fluent 3, soon ridden and outpaced, no imrpession when blundered and unseated rider next
Noble Endeavor, winner of a very competitive handicap at Leopardstown over Christmas, is running at his third successive Festival. He was second in the Martin Pipe in 2015 but fell in last year’s National Hunt Chase and has shot up the weights. Several look better treated including The Druids Nephew, winner of this in 2015 off today’s mark. He may have been laid out for the race again having had just the one outing this term. His trainer also runs The Young Master and Pilgrims Bay, the latter given a peach of a ride by James Best to land a valuable handicap at Kempton last month and only 7lb higher. Label Des Obeaux and Singlefarmpayment are improving novices and Coologue likes it here and could make the frame at decent odds but the vote goes to HOLYWELL. This is his time of year and he is 12lb better with Un Temps Pour Tout than when beaten seven lengths by the top weight last year - it’s only two years since he was finishing an honourable fourth in Coneygree’s Gold Cup.
Un Temps Pour Tout (IRE) 20-1 (11-4) Mid-division, pushed along before normal 3 out, never involved, plugged on flat, 6th of 15, 13 1/2l behind Unowhatimeanharry (11-8) at Cheltenham 3m (1) sft in Jan.
Noble Endeavor (IRE) 6-1 (11-3) Soon mid-division, slightly impeded 10th, progress to chase leader from 2 out, challenged straight, on terms last, led and asserted run-in, stayed on well, won at Leopardstown 3m Yielding in Dec beating The Crafty Butcher (10-1) by 3 1/2l, 28 ran.
Theatre Guide (IRE) 11-1 (11-11) Chased leaders, hampered 9th, led 13th, ridden and headed last, 3rd and one pace run-in, 3rd of 13, 3l behind Pilgrims Bay (10-2) at Kempton 3m hcp (1) gd in Feb.
Clarcam (FR) 7-2 (11-8) Held up behind leaders, ridden in moderate 5th 4 out, no impression next, soon no extra and weakened, last of 6, dist behind Alisier D'irlande (11-5) at Naas 2m (1) hvy in Feb.
Viconte Du Noyer (FR) 20-1 (11-11) Mid-division, mistake 5th, hit 13th and struggling after, mistake 17th, pulled up before 5 out, at Chepstow 3m 5f hcp (1) sft in Dec.
Annacotty (IRE) 33-1 (11-12) Chased leader, led 9th until 13th, weakened quickly before next, 8th of 13, 16 1/4l behind Pilgrims Bay (10-2) at Kempton 3m hcp (1) gd in Feb.
The Young Master 80-1 (11-0) Always in rear, 14th of 15, dist behind Unowhatimeanharry (11-8) at Cheltenham 3m (1) sft in Jan.
Label Des Obeaux (FR) 11-8jfav (11-11) Made all, clear from 3 out, stayed on strongly, unchallenged, won at Exeter 3m hcp (3) gs in Feb beating Herbert Park (10-13) by 4l, 5 ran.
Holywell (IRE) 25-1 (11-12) In touch, lost place from 10 out, soon behind, 11th of 14, dist behind Ziga Boy (10-11) at Doncaster 3m hcp lst (1) gd in Jan.
Junction Fourteen (IRE) 16-1 (11-6) Led, joined 5 out, headed after 2 out, soon rallied, kept on well, 2nd of 12, 4 1/2l behind Antony (10-1) at Ascot 3m hcp (1) gd in Oct.
The Druids Nephew (IRE) 12-1 (11-5) Hampered 1st, towards rear, struggling in last pair 3 out, never involved, 9th of 14, dist behind Regal Encore (11-1) at Ascot 3m hcp lst (1) gs in Dec.
Ibis Du Rheu (FR) 8-1 (11-12) Mid-division, headway 12th, hampered 3 out, 2nd 2 out, no impression on winner, lost 2nd and stayed on same pace flat, 3rd of 14, 9 3/4l behind Royal Vacation (11-9) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp (2) sft in Jan.
Measureofmydreams (IRE) 14-1 (10-13) Always towards rear, detached before 10th, pulled up before 3 out, at Gowran Park 3m 1f hcp sft in Jan.
Buywise (IRE) 12-1 (11-10) Towards rear, last pair and struggling 11th, tailed off when went right 4 out, 10th of 12, 33 1/4l behind Perfect Candidate (11-12) at Exeter 3m hcp (2) sft in Feb.
Coologue (IRE) 12-1 (11-5) Prominent, went 2nd from 10th, weakened before 4 out, 8th of 14, 33l behind Ziga Boy (10-11) at Doncaster 3m hcp lst (1) gd in Jan.
Caid Du Berlais (FR) 12-1 (11-6) Mid-division, headway 6 out, weakened from 2 out, 5th of 14, 24 1/2l behind Ziga Boy (10-11) at Doncaster 3m hcp lst (1) gd in Jan.
Henri Parry Morgan 8-1 (11-8) Tracked leading pair until 10th, left 3rd 13th, pushed along and outpaced before 4 out, left poor 2nd next, 2nd of 4, 17l behind Tea For Two (11-8) at Exeter 3m (2) sft in Feb.
Singlefarmpayment 5-1jfav (11-8) Held up in rear, brought down 12th, at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp (2) sft in Jan.
Pilgrims Bay (IRE) 25-1 (10-2) Patiently ridden and held up last, hit 7th, steady headway 14th, tracking leaders on inside on bit before 3 out, 2nd 3 out, produced to lead at the last, kept on well and always doing enough run-in, wonderful ride, won at Kempton 3m hcp (1) gd in Feb beating Double Shuffle (11-7) by 1/2l, 13 ran.
Go Conquer (IRE) 5-1 (10-6) Tracked leader until 2nd, settled 3rd, hit 5th, went 2nd 15th, ridden and no impression after 3 out, 2nd of 7, 30l behind Tenor Nivernais (11-7) at Ascot 3m hcp lst (1) sft in Feb.
A Good Skin (IRE) 10-1 (11-4) Prominent, not fluent 2nd, led 4th, headed 12th, led 15th, headed 17th, bumped 3 out, soon weakened, 9th of 16, dist behind Tour Des Champs (11-1) at Cheltenham 3m 2f hcp (2) sft in Jan.
Vintage Clouds (IRE) 5-1 (10-10) Towards rear, headway before 6 out, mistake 5 out, plugged on from 3 out, went 3rd towards finish, 3rd of 13, 21 1/4l behind Vieux Lion Rouge (11-6) at Haydock 3m 4f hcp (1) gs in Feb.
Vic De Touzaine (FR) 9-2 (10-8) Chased leaders, went 2nd before 8th until after 11th, chased leaders, rallied into 2nd again 4 out, no impression next, 2nd of 9, 20l behind Thomas Crapper (10-2) at Newbury 2m 4f hcp (1) sft in Mar.
Antony (FR) 12-1 (10-11) In touch, blundered and stumbled badly 15th, behind next, tailed off and pulled up after 4 out, at Sandown 3m hcp (2) sft in Feb.
